JONATHAN WOODGATE has been offered to Middlesbrough by Real Madrid, but any deal will not take place until the new manager has been installed at the Riverside Stadium.

After two injury-ravaged seasons in Spain, sources in Madrid claim Woodgate's advisors have been told to find him a new employer through the summer.

Newcastle have first refusal on a player they allowed to leave two years ago in a club record £13.4m deal, but a switch to his hometown club Middlesbrough could also be on the cards.

The England centre-back, who will miss on this summer's World Cup because of his injury problems, has been training at former club Leeds United in an attempt to build up his fitness levels.

But, with Leeds destined for another season in the Championship, Woodgate is looking for a move back to the Premiership.

Real, despite being huge admirers of his attitude and talent, have become frustrated at his failure to overcome injury problems, highlighted by just nine league appearances since joining in August 2004.

They are ready to sanction the departure of a player who cost them millions, although a lot of negotiating will have to take place by any prospective employers.

There is talk that whichever clubs are keen may try to strike a deal to take him on a pay-as-you-play basis, given the player's record of hamstring injuries.

If Boro are to take things further, and seriously rival Newcastle for his signature, then they are unlikely to do so until the new manager has been installed.

The Teessiders expect to learn today whether Terry Venables has accepted the offer to take charge on Teesside.

The odds on him accepting have drifted out even further in the last 24 hours and Tony Mowbray's name has now jumped to within touching distance of the former England boss.

Mowbray, manager at Hibernian, had looked out of the running. But with Venables delaying his decision, the former Boro skipper could yet find himself contacted by chairman Steve Gibson.

Iain Dowie, who quit his position at Crystal Palace last week, remains in the frame, although he is now the favourite to take charge at Charlton following Billy Davies' decision to stay with Preston. Dowie had an interview for the Addicks post yesterday.

Whoever does succeed Steve McClaren looks destined to have the services of winger Stewart Downing next season.

Downing is to be the subject of a £7.5m bid from Tottenham in the coming weeks, but Boro's chief executive Keith Lamb said: "Stewart Downing is not for sale.

"We are building a team, not dismantling one. "We have had no contact about him and we don't expect, or want, any."

Boro striker Mark Viduka skippered Australia to a World Cup warm-up win over Greece yesterday morning in Melbourne.

Viduka, withdrawn after an hour, was on the field when Wigan's Josip Skoko scored the only goal after 16 minutes in front of more than 95,000 fans at Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Boro team-mate Mark Schwarzer is expected to play in the next friendly against Holland.